4 Myths 4 Truth Comenius project 2013-2015

MOST POPULAR SCHOOL FESTIVALS

A 100 DAY PARTY AT SCHOOL

 A “100 Day Party”, one of the most important celebrations in Lithuanian schools, means that only 100 days are left for the school-leavers until the exam period. It usually falls out at the end of February and is the last winter event at school. With only 100 days left, it reminds the future graduates they should start thinking seriously about their wishes, future plans, skills and academic results. Apart from a variety of other acts performed on this occasion, what really sets apart our school event form others held elsewhere in other schools is a waltz competition. In it, students, previously with no distinct dancing skills, now have to do their best performing the Vienna waltz in front of an authoritative panel of judges. Sometimes, even practising for two months is not enough and can still play a trick on the dancing couples. Anyway, the best couple of the Waltz King and Queen is eventually announced, but it is not the title they dance for. The new ability to dance is far more important and, if improved, can be performed later at the school-leaving ball. Bringing the whole school community together, a 100 Day Party is definitely one of the most popular celebrations enjoyed by every student who would hardly be able to imagine his or her school without it.

THE LAST BELL CELEBRATION

 Taking place in the last week of May, The Last Bell event is a traditional school-leavers’ celebration which marks the end of the lessons and the start of exam period. It is also meant to be the last farewell of the school-leavers to their teachers and friends they had at school. This is the last time they hear the bell ringing and hence is the name “The Last Bell”. Traditionally, the celebration starts very early in the morning, when the school-leavers literally sneak to their class teacher’s home to wake him or her up in a most unusual manner. Even more inventive they are in choosing the oddest means of transport to drive their class teacher to school. Another significant moment of the event is when the school-leavers “Last Will” is read out. This is a kind of tips and a “To-Do” list of humorous nature for younger students staying behind at school. The school-leavers have different feelings about the event: for some of them it is joy or rather the end of torture days, whilst for others it is a moment of sadness or pity over the careless sunny school days, now coming to an end. Yet for all of them there is one thing in common – they will never ever return to their classrooms again. This is the start of a new life, an adult life.